ZANESVILLE - JD Equipment entered into a real property tax abatement recently with the city to complete an $800,000 expansion to the John Deere store on Northpointe Drive.

According to Norm Murphy, chief financial officer, the company is adding 12,000-square-feet to the facility which will open opportunities for at least six additional employees.

Many Muskingum County businesses are granted real property tax abatements as an incentive to come to a area or expand existing operations to encourage economic development.

JD Equipment entered into agreement for a 40 percent tax abatement for construction of the expansion which, in turn, will bring in excess of $250,000 in additional wages to the community.

"The expansion will permit JD Equipment to better serve our customers by offering a larger and state-of-the-art service shop," said Murphy. "The expansion will also permit JD Equipment to provide a larger inventory of new and used equipment and will increase our ability to service customers needs because of the efficiency we will gain with a new service shop."

JD Equipment has been located at 4394 Northpointe Drive, since March 2012 when JD Equipment purchased the assets of Finton Equipment, a John Deere dealership.

The business sells and services new and used equipment for residential, commercial, governmental and agricultural customers. They also sell parts and merchandise.

"New equipment, particularly agricultural equipment, is becoming larger and more technologically sophisticated," Murphy said. "Our technicians will have the latest in tools to service customer equipment. In addition, we will be expanding our parts storage so that we have the right part at the right time when the customer has a need for parts."

JD Equipment currently employees 31 full and part-time employees.

"We are always looking to improve our service capabilities and are hiring qualified technicians when they apply," Murphy said. "We are always looking to sponsor qualified high school graduates in the John Deere certified technician training program."

Murphy said JD Equipment is currently working with local contractors on projects plans to be executed later this year.